An urban forest, spread over an area of 900 sq.m, and comprising 3000 trees has been developed with the help of Miyawaki technique along Chhani Lake in Vadodara city, Gujarat, as part of ICLEI South Asia’s CapaCITIES project. The plot hosts saplings of 38 native species. The Miyawaki technique was pioneered by Dr. Akira Miyawaki, a Japanese botanist. It is one of the most successful techniques for developing an urban forest and involves the planting of a variety of tree species that are best suited for the specified locality.
In order to advance its initiatives to improve Vadodara’s green cover, which currently stands at around 18 percent, the city corporation has identified several plots that would be developed as urban forests with the Miyawaki technique. The pilot near Channi Lake will serve as a replicable model that can be upscaled throughout the city.